This blog is meant to be a place to come and enjoy quilts with color, easy piecing, story quilts, laughter with a joke or two, a little wisdom,stories with sentiment, an editorial or two,encouragement to pay it forward, the idea that NICE is a good thing, some crafts, family, friends work, some painting, cooking and decorating and alot of creativity and invention from Mary Lou who is an author, designer, teacher, quilter, and Grandma

Saturday, March 30, 2013

The quilt above seems like a good one for Easter-it is by the Danish artist Bodi Gardner

Coloring eggs is creative but writing on eggs seems like a really great idea- maybe with Bible verses and family names and blessings!

Just got the nicest note and this little bunny above is made by Sarah FIELKE who is from Great Britain...they always do cool stuff there and I do love this=Thank you Folk Lady for letting me know this! !

Wouldn't this be a cute wallhanging or quilt?

Easter Bonnet cake...now that is beautiful and delicious!

When Bunnies share....on Easter of coarse!

I always hope this....I always feel better and happier when I feel God there in my life.

Isn't this the cutest elephant ever?

CUTE bunnies and a happy happy chick!

I took a class to make these eggs once....phew what alot of work...but beautiful!

It makes me feel happy especially at Easter time that God has a divine plan for me and the people I love and all people whether they know it or not....

I wanted to share this. When you think of God imagine His hand and Divine design in everything. Look at the perfection in this head of cabbage. As I told my Granddaughter today, there are miricles everyday right in front of us and we are too busy to see the beauty and majesty right in front of our eyes. It is a good thing to take time to really see what is right in front of us to enjoy!

I wish you all a beautiful Easter and a Happy Passover. Count your many blessings for the things that some people would give anything for and you might be taking forgranted. Life is beautiful and meant to be enjoyed and appreciated and to share your blessings with others who need some of what you are blessed to have.
Thank you for visiting my Blog!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Vickie Monton took the little Chick from the Out of the Box with Easy Blocks book and made this cute Chick! Imagine what a darling baby quilt this would be in soft pretty colors....makes a good Easter quilt too...;0)

BIRDS from the Flower Power book and exchange...so fun!

This bird was made in one of my workshops and she used curved piecing....

FLOWER POWER starts wotjhoochy piecing and lets it grow into a large flower garden of fun and color and whimsy....the skies the limit...we will be doing alot of these at John C.Campbell in May and the West Virginia Cedar Creek Retreat and my own retreat in Idaho June 2nd-7th.

The Flower Power quilt above is by Kathy Sandling-isn't she wonderful with color?

Lots of flowers all in one wonderful quilt!

Girls from Flower Power Workshops

Aren't these fun?

White makes a cool background too and added buttons and rick rack once it is done is awesome....

The quilt below is for Laurie Latta's Granddaughter-lovely flowers in a happy quilt...the alphabet instructions are in Out of the Box with Easy Blocks

Laurie Latta made the darling quilt below...all from Flower Power

Flower siwth prints and plaids are awesome...I did not write down whose flowers this is but I love it!

Joan from West Virginia...darling quilt! Shes coming back which makes me so happy!

This might be by Kathy Collins...I am not sure but great heart shapes for fun! These could be in a row as bleeding hearts too-or heart flowers

This is what spring is about- color and happiness...and my fabrics

I saw this wonderful rainbow in Arizona and wanted to share it...like God had His finger making this that moment...so cool

And I have posted this photo in past Easter years but had to show it again. I went to Salzburg Germany and they had this egg shop with thousands of hollowed out decorated eggs...it was incredible. I bought too and they were shells by the time I got home....sigh

And for fun I thought I would end this with Carol Simpson's happy work. She did this darling cat quilt and used the cats from the Out of the Box with Easy Blocks CATS...so fun and so funky....

These are darling quilts she made for each daughter and she used the Princess Idea for each and put her own spin on it...isn't she wonderful? Taking an idea and making it your own is what I love to see!

SORRY MN quilters I won't be visitng you this year in June...I think you are too traditional for me I am sorry to say. I do love it there and think I fit in when I come to visit.

I love this time of year and the wonderful colors that God provides us. Count your many blessing and be a blessing to someone else. This is the true secret of happiness.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

I just HAD to share this. Janice S. who took a five day workshop from me decided to do her friend Ann from Denmark (she also took my class). This is how it looks today and her sense of color and whimsy is wonderful! See why we love these story quilts so much? I would love to own this and put it on my wall! Just wait until it is quilted! Awesome job Janice!

Above is Tina's buy from Artfest in Spokane the day before the retreats...I also bought a clock...note the cow in the lower corner by Judy-she is driving up (again) with her sister Kathy from Pacific Grove...they bought some great things last year too and got many ideas from Farm Chicks and other students...so fun!

Above is Sandy's trps with her Mother over Hill and Over Dale....so fun-she is coming back this year and I am sure it will be done and quilted..can't wait to see it!Keep scrolling and you will see how it is coming along!

Thought I would show you some brief photos of the Idaho retreat I host every summer. I have lots of photos of blocks we do every year with new handouts for new things and new ideas. Such fun to push the boundaries...even if you use traditional colors!

Who would have thought of a black flower? I love this and Sandy Fisher thought of it! She is coming back this year with a vehicle so she can bring home treasures from Farm Chicks, the quilt shop and ArtFest. :0)

Below, Val shows off a bunny she cut out! no drawing just cut....

Tina's vegie tray

Here are three of Judy's cows for her story....this year she is coming back to finish it...can't wait. She has two to finish....but who is counting? :0)

A finished wonky flying geese....

Below is the beginning of a story quilt by Charlotte about her husband painting and a relative playing the sax along...very fun story and awesome quilt...love her colors....Charlotte and her sister Laura (the bunny sisters) have both done many many story quilts...so wonderful for the history and for their family...

A quilt all ready for its story....

Sue White does a story quilt of her house being built and her children and husband are now appliqued onto the top of this...it is awesome and shows the beauty of where she lives in Idaho

here is Sandy's quilt which you saw earlier and look how it has progressed...these are so much fun!

Wonderful chicken salad on whole whear...delicious
Below, borders built and stories next....love the ground in the one closest here so fun!

Chicken salad...

Dawn's birds....loved being with talented Dawn....

Linette conquers the hoochy block

Dawn's border all ready for her drawing (below) of her daughter in law...

Another adorable bird...so many smiles in this class!

Working like busy bees...great light and room for everyone here. I keep the numbers low so we can accomplish new things as they come up....so fun

Playful blocks and flowers and bees and birds and hearts...

Dawn's drawing to go on her background...so fun

Desserts are served on our mascot girl...she has been at every retreat serving up good stuff and a smile

Houses and flowers and....

This is the beginning of Diane's farm quilt which now includes a wonderful bird bath and birds....one of the wonderful things about this retreat is we learn alot from each other and everyone comes from somewhere else in the country!

Laurie's salads and hot rolls and cookies and good stuff

A border waiting as the picture is drawn....

Ruben sandwiches......

trying to stay out of the rain!

The bottom of Dawn's terrific daughter in law quilt...I have no idea why I didn't take the head with it's darling hat!

Alphabets and lettering for chuckles and serious sentiments too

Wendy's pretty smile (she is returning this year from Southern California...

Sandy Appleby who finished this quilt about Italy and won a first prize at her guild (I don't have a photo of the finished quilt that I can find (I have 22,000 photos on my computer

We always start out the retreat with dinner at a good Mexican restaurant...now we do this following a day at Farm Chicks and ArtFest in Spokane

here is the huge sign you are greeted with

Americana is a big theme and lots of clothing that are on people mirror this...and cowgirls and vintage clothing and us in our Aprons and tiaras....

Sandy did these wonderful pieced letters for her wonderful cow quilt!

Huckleberry shakes....a treat of this region....

There are so many cool pieces of furniture there and alot of them holding cool stuff like this one....

Hundreds of old tablecloths and linens for great prices...old flags, rugs, pillows....

Pillows, old quilts, old quilt pieces and lots of repurposed stuff that you think "wow, why didn't I think of that!?"

:ots and lots of cool jewelry, scrarves, tops cowboy boots, hats-little lamps,old chennille bedspreads....kitchenware from the 40's and 50's...
Anyhow this is what I could find today in my vast photo library....hope you come and join the fun. We have two spots left ...only. Would love to have you come and join the fun with all of us!

Buttons Treasures by Mary Lou Weidman

Monkey;s love snow too

Kathy Collin's Cow

Van Gogh's cow- Iowa

The newest cow we have seen...please make a cow for our cow parade show all over the US next year!

Ann's psycowdelic cow from Quilting Adventures in the Hill Country

Ann and I graduated the same year and I think we both loved the 60's!

MOOlon Rouge cow by Sandy Fisher

Is this fun or what? A French COW!

The nicest guy in the world

And his Granddaughter who takes after him

A COW with a REAL tutu and head phones....

Stephanie Davis who has a blog made this happy cow

My Kind of COW

Do you see what I see? I love it!

Great Interview with Mary Lou and Mel McFarland

http://www.martingale-pub.com/news/?p=493

Check out the MANY cows on this blog!

click here to see them! Isn't this cow cute?

Mary Lou's schedule for workshops and classes

http://marylouweidman.com/schedule.aspx
To book a workshop, contact MaryLou at Marylouquilts@aol.com or her new phone number 509-924-8822

God continues His creativity through you!

Isn't this mind blowing and wonderful?
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. —Proverbs 16:3

For Retreats on Christmas I am teaching

Would love to teach for your guild-Christmas is a great workshop for originality and joy!

Mary Lou's Pacific Grove CA story quilt-hope you can see it in person-it is big and fun and colorfu

This quilt is now in the Del Thomas Collection

Cat Nabber

Isn't this cute?

Haha

Poor Clem

Yup

It's Summertime

Mark and My Son with Mark's Cadallac he bought when he found out he was Ill...

This 10 year old car (that we could afford) Mark's dream...I love these two men-they are both so good in so many ways...

This blog and the Girl who writes it are wonderful!

http://henhousestudio.blogspot.com/
So a couple of weeks ago I was in a little restaurant eating with my daughter in law when the cutest lady came up to me and asked if I was "Mary lou". And she is the author of a blog I go to often!
So I am putting her address here so you can check her out too.
Go back a ways and look at her darling glasses on her cute face! She is just the kid of quilter everyone wants to meet!

Reminds of of my Grandma

This is how I want to be....

My husband and my Granddaughter

My son's Father in law sent this to me and melted my heart-I LOVE these two kids!

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Cleaning Friends :0)

My daughter and her best friend from high school came to dust and clean and love-wonderful to see how these girls have grown up. I am blessed

Cow Quilt Says it All-Pam Toombs makes a great Cow quilt!

The back of the quilt says "On the other side"

Tazuti Zoo Dolls Make me Happy

Love the dolls Emily makes in Pacific Grove California- MORE great color!

HAVE A COW WHY DON'T YOU?

Cows from Made from a simple cow pattern from "Out of the Box with Easy Blocks" -cow takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours to make and then the fun begins....making your cow theme awesome and fun!

Swedish Expression from Mom and Grandma

"My Mom's Favorite Expression"

PATTY HARANTS NECKLACE

Patty spent part of the day looking at Museums and eating Memphis BarBQue with me and I could not get over how delightful this necklace was- Thought you would love it too. Stay tuned for photos from my Memphis Adventure....

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Moo'ey Fiesta

Bottle tree Magic

You all know how I adore bottle trees and I found this one...I would LOVE to make this! Need to find a couple of bar tenders who sell alot of vodka....

Caiti Wallace Makes Out of the Box Cats!

Isn't this a HAPPY Quilt? Great job Caiti! Chicago quilters rock!

A Mary Lou Style Sewing Machine-Wish It was Mine!

Kim B's COW quilt!

Quilting Adventure's Kim is a talented quilter in her own right! VERY fun

Got to see the real painting in person in Chicago

I lived this painting but it is smaller than I thought

This is Happy!

Want a Happy Feel Good Story-Made my week!-Watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBYPlcSD490&feature=youtu.be

Thank you Sandi

Color and Plaids make for easy and beautiful quilts!

Great Quote to live by

" A good listener is a great flatterer"

Listen to this before bed-it is happy and true and a blessing to each of us

http://www.wimp.com/simplegratitude/

Blocks for my Granddaughter's bug quilt

All of these blocks will be sashed with checkboards or more dots...need a full size quilt-So fun!

Mary Lou Explains her Family Vacation Story Quilt

Great Fun with friends from the past -TEXAS with Janice and Debby

Quilting Adventures- I need a haircut...

Fun at the Museum

Mary Lou at Crystal Bridges Art Museum-trying to walk like the guy in front of me....

My Quilt called "View from a Five Yr. Old"

I used to watch my Mom in her garden when I was little

Throughout life, one does not miss any chance to hold onto the things that are really precious, if one is truly wise. Ed Greenwood

Great Photos of Mary Lou's Retreat and Farm Chicks

www.shhdesigns.blogspot.comSandi'sBlog gives you a good idea of the fun and creativity of my retreat in Idaho and also Mary Lou's other blog-Marylouweidman.blogspot.com

So True-share your power

Adorable and Creative!

Tina's Clock from Farm Chicks Show

Cow by Sandi Henscel From Canada!

I don't know why but it made me laugh out loud- maybe because it is so stupid, Haha

Snappy Gram

My style and a quilt story for sure!

Is this the cutest? Soon she will get dressed and begin quilting

"The success's of His people are always achieved by dependence on HIm. Micah 5:10-14

Mary Lou's Grandpa and Grandpa story quilt

Stacked Books!

Mary Lou's Crush

The Tulsa girls brought me a photo of my favorite actor! James Garner is a "real" man....

Mary Lou And Jane C- we love color!

Candy from Oregon

Full Moon Story Quilt-see at Sister's Show this year

As I quiet my inner critic, I invite creativity to come alive and I create my masterpiece,
Everything created by God is good.- 1Timothy 4:4

Is this gorgeous or what? This spring, new quilt coming in these colors! Stay tuned

WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE

2012 is a perfect year to mix and match those fabrics in your stash using Hoochy blocks for FUN!

Gracie Allen's Classic Recipe for Roast Beef -thank you Carol

1 large Roast of beef
1 small Roast of beef
Take the two roasts and put them in the oven.
When the little one burns, the big one is done

Laurie Latta's Darling Quilt for her Granddaughter

Started in Class at Asilomar this quilt turned out to be a real Prizewinner!

I am itching to do more chicken quilts...color and fun

So, what is his point? Haha

"There is a fine line between what people call a "hobby" and Mental illness"

Dave Berry

I love this verse...it makes me feel very special and loved

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;” Jeremiah 1:5

SMILE- in the new book-don't you love this word? Two alphabet's and license to have FUN!

I want this sofa if you win the lotto please

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The Power of Flowers!

I Miss My Mom

"The best conversations with Mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks"